Rarely accessible to the public, the John Madejski Fine Rooms at the Royal Academy of Arts have temporarily opened while they renovate the Collections Gallery.
The last time I was in these historic rooms must have been in 2018, when they used them for their 250th anniversary exhibition.
The current display showcases treasures from the RA Collection spanning over 300 years from Thomas Gainsborough to David Hockney. A large portion of these are Diploma Works, artworks donated by artists and architects upon their election as Royal Academicians.
My favourite section is a female-centric corner featuring portraits by Ethel Walker, Orovida Pissarro, Laura Knight, and Helen Lessore. This is also a great opportunity to see one of the the RA’s famous highlights: Frank Cadogan Cowper’s Vanity (1907).
Some of these rooms are also notable for their ceiling paintings by Sebastiano Ricci and William Kent.
It may be a while until such an occasion presents itself, so go quickly.
Open daily, 11am – 4pm (until 9pm on Fridays)
*Please note, on occasion one or two of the rooms may have limited access.
The John Madejski Fine Rooms (16 December 2025 – 19 April 2026) are in the Royal Academy of Arts, London, https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/
Nigel Ip 
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